Anna Lee Fisher

Infobox Astronaut
name =Anna Lee Tingle Fisher


type =NASA Astronaut
status =Active
nationality =American
date_birth =August 24, 1949
place_birth =New York City, New York
occupation =Chemist
selection =1978 NASA Group
time =7d 23h 44m
mission =STS-51-A
insignia =|

Anna Lee Tingle Fisher , M.D. (née Sims) [cite web|url=http://www.chem.ucla.edu/dept/Faculty/hawthorne/biographical/biograph.htm|title=BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF M. FREDERICK HAWTHORNE|publisher=UCLA|accessdate=2007-09-22] (born August 24, 1949, in New York City) is an American chemist and a NASA astronaut.

Biography

Although Fisher was born in New York, she grew up in San Pedro, California and considers it her hometown. She is a 1967 graduate of San Pedro High School. She went on to received a bachelor of science in Chemistry in 1971 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Fisher then stayed on at UCLA and started graduate school in chemistry in the field of x-ray crystallographic studies of metallocarbonanes. The following year she moved to the UCLA medical school and received her doctor of Medicine degree in 1976. She did an internship at Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, California in 1977. She chose to specialize in emergency medicine and worked in several hospitals in the Los Angeles area. Fisher later went back to graduate school in chemistry and received a master of science in chemistry from UCLA in 1987.

She was married to fellow astronaut, William Frederick Fisher. They have two daughters, Kristin Anne (b. July 29, 1983) and Kara Lynne (b. January 10, 1989). [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/persons/astronauts/e-to-h/FisherWF.txt]

NASA career

Fisher was selected as an astronaut candidate in January 1978. In August 1979, she completed her training and evaluation period, making her eligible for assignment as a mission specialist on space shuttle flight crews. [ [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/fisher-a.html Astronaut Bio: Anna Fisher (1/2006)] ] [ [http://www.astronautix.com/astros/fisher.htm Anna Fisher page on Astronautix.com] ] [ [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/fisher_anna.htm Spacefacts biography of Anna Lee Fisher] ]

Following the one-year basic training program, Fisher's early NASA assignments (pre-STS-1 through STS-4) included the following:
*The development and testing of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) – commonly called the shuttle's "robotic arm"
*The development and testing of payload bay door contingency spacewalk procedures, the extra-small spacesuit, and contingency repair procedures;
*Verification of flight software at the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) – in that capacity she reviewed test requirements and procedures for ascent, on-orbit, and RMS software verification – and served as a crew evaluator for verification and development testing for STS-2, STS-3 and STS-4.

For STS-5 through STS-7, Fisher supported vehicle integrated testing and payload testing at Kennedy Space Center. In addition, Fisher supported each Orbital Flight Test (STS 1-4) launch and landing (at either a prime or backup site) as a physician in the rescue helicopters, and provided both medical and operational inputs to the development of rescue procedures. Fisher was a CAPCOM for STS-9.

Post-Challenger

Fisher was assigned as a mission specialist on STS-61-H prior to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Following the accident she worked as the Deputy of the Mission Development Branch of the Astronaut Office, and as the astronaut office representative for Flight Data File issues. In that capacity she served as the crew representative on the Crew Procedures Change Board. Fisher served on the Astronaut Selection Board for the 1987 class of astronauts. Fisher also served in the Space Station Support Office where she worked part-time in the Space Station Operations Branch. She was the crew representative supporting space station development in the areas of training, operations concepts, and the health maintenance facility.

Leave of absence

Fisher returned to the NASA Astronaut Office in 1996 after an extended leave of absence (1989-1996).

Return

When she first returned to the Astronaut Office, she was assigned to the Operations Planning Branch to work on the procedures and training issues in support of the International Space Station. She served as the Branch Chief of the Operations Planning Branch from June 1997-June 1998. Following a reorganization of the Astronaut office, she was assigned as the Deputy for Operations/Training of the Space Station Branch from June 1998-June 1999. In that capacity, she had oversight responsibility for Astronaut Office inputs to the Space Station Program on issues regarding operations, procedures, and training for the ISS. She next served as Chief of the Space Station Branch of the Astronaut Office with oversight responsibility for 40-50 astronauts and support engineers. In that capacity, she coordinated all astronaut inputs to the Space Station Program Office on issues regarding the design, development, and testing of space station hardware. Additionally, she coordinated all Astronaut Office inputs to Space Station operations, procedures, and training and works with the International Partners to negotiate common design requirements and standards for displays and procedures. She also served as the Astronaut Office representative on numerous Space Station Program Boards and Multilateral Boards. Fisher is currently assigned to the Shuttle Branch and works technical assignments in that branch while awaiting an assignment as either a Space Shuttle crewmember on a Space Station assembly mission or as a crewmember aboard the International Space Station.

paceflight experience

Fisher was a mission specialist on STS-51A which launched November 8, 1984. She was accompanied by Frederick Hauck (spacecraft commander), David Walker (pilot) and fellow mission specialists Dr. Joseph Allen and Dale Gardner. With the completion of her flight, Fisher logged a total of 192 hours in space.

Fisher became the first mother in space when she went up on STS-51-A.

Awards and honors

* National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship in 1970, 1971
* Graduated from UCLA cum laude and with honors in chemistry.
* NASA Space Flight Medal
* Lloyd's of London Silver Medal for Meritorious Salvage Operations
* Mother of the Year Award, 1984
* UCLA Professional Achievement Award
* UCLA Medical Professional Achievement Award
* NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 1999.
* California Science Center Woman of the year, 1986

References

External links

* [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/roundups/issues/77-09-02.pdf 1977 JSC Roundup paper announcing astronaut applicant "Anna L. Sims", born in "Albany, N.Y."]